As seems to be the case every year, selecting a top 25 was difficult task for 2025. There are so many good albums not on the list, that I liked almost as much as what was included. However, selecting the top album was not hard this year. Wednesday – Bleeds was an obvious choice to […]
Mayer’s Picks, More 2025 Favorites
Here, in no particular order, are more favorites from 2025.
SXSW 2025: The Sounds, Part 1
JOHN FOGERTY “I just got my songs back and I’m gonna play every one of them,” said Fogerty at the start of his show, celebrating the return of his song publishing rights. He wasn’t kidding. He and his band cranked through hit after hit, culminating with a bruising “Fortunate Son”. The icing on the cake? […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Early 2025
Easy Love, Part 1, Larkin Poe (from the Tricki-Woo Records release Bloom) Rebecca and Megan Lovell continue to fortify their position as leading lights for modern blues-based rock. Their latest album is another glorious celebration of rock and roll, one led by Rebecca’s electric guitar and Megan’s steel guitar. Opener “Mockingbird” may start with a […]
Readers’ Pick: Larkin Poe – Bloom
You picked Larkin Poe – Bloom as your favorite new release for the week of January 31, 2025.
The Twangville Early 2025 Preview
Astrovan: The Love Song Vignettes by Humbird (10 Jan) Humbird’s slow trickling of singles over the past couple months has us primed for their newest full length. Landing somewhere musically between Bjork and Neil Young, these short tunes showcase Siri Undlin’s sweet vocals. (Todd Mathis) Bloom by Larkin Poe (24 Jan) Megan and Rebecca Lovell […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2022, Part 2
Breaking Slow, Anthony D’Amato (from the Blue Rose Music release At First There Was Nothing) Anthony D’Amato is on a creative tear. Fresh from the this summer’s debut of Fantastic Cat, the songwriter collective of which he is a founding member, D’Amato has released an album that ranks among the finest of his on-going career. […]
The Twangville Summer/Fall 2022 Release Preview
All This Life by Parker Twomey (15 July) Parker Twomey’s debut has a freewheeling and airy vibe, not to mention a maturity that belies his age. Lava Lamp by Jonah Tolchin (15 July) Tolchin steps away from his more restrained and often acoustic-based previous work to serve up one heck of a rock album. Nation […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best of 2020, the Albums
What a year it has been! Thankfully there’s been some great music to help sustain us. Here are my picks for the best albums of 2020. 11. Consider the Speed by Terra Lightfoot Another rock and roll tour de force from Terra Lightfoot. Consider the Speed is brimming with fervent guitars and musical bravado, not […]
Bonus Monday Video – Celebrating Tom Petty
The late Tom Petty would have celebrated his 70th birthday last week. Nashville-based musician Dylan Sevey decided to mark the occasion by inviting a few friends to share some of their favorite Petty songs. I guess things got a little carried away – just look at the list of participating artists below, more than 100 […]